France Beats Portugal: Euro 2024 Qualification Boost

The decisive confrontation – and announced to be close – did not go far from a correction, inflicted by the French handball team on the Portuguese selection (46-38), Saturday January 24, in Herning (Denmark). Hurt by their first defeat suffered in this Euro 2026 on Thursday, and whose result in favor of the Danes did not reflect their real level of play (29-32), the Blues showed off their offensive strength and regained confidence against Portugal.

Usually guided by the young brothers Francisco and Martim Costa – 20 and 23 years old respectively – the Lusitanian team displayed a rare imprecision in shooting. Combined with his defensive feverishness, this offered Dika Mem (8 goals), Ludovic Fabregas (6 goals) and others, an ideal playing field. Thus, the Blues had a large lead at half-time (28-15), preserved despite a more competitive second half.

In the counter phase or on placed attacks, the men of coach Guillaume Gille were able to defeat a Portuguese team on alternating current. An irregularity already seen during the preliminary round, when these new contenders for the title – fourth in the 2025 World Cup, beaten in the small final by the French – were neutralized by North Macedonia (29-29), before bringing down Denmark (31-29), Olympic and world champion.

“We keep the cards in our hands”

This disjointed success of the Blues will also have been an opportunity for several executives in the locker room to get back on track. Elohim Prandi, singled out during the previous match, notably knew how to raise his head: “I’m happy with what I was able to produce for the teamconfirmed the left-back at the microphone of BeIN Sports. We were keen to make up for it against Portugal, it was a matter of life and death. By beating them today, we keep the cards in our hands. »

Provisionally second in a particularly dense group, the France team will have to maintain its course against Spain, Monday January 26, then against Germany, Wednesday January 28. Two crucial matches, which will determine whether or not the Blues qualify for the semi-finals of the competition. To achieve this, Guillaume Gille’s players will have to finish in one of the first two places in their group.

“We can still see the mountains looming, and the difficulty in continuing this journey”summarized the coach on BeIN Sports. In the event of reaching the last four, which is far from certain, the semi-final could almost allow the Blues, title holders, to breathe a little against a less tough opponent. Indeed, in the other group of the main round, less tough, Slovenia, Iceland, Croatia and Sweden are fighting for the two qualifying places.